The surprisingly strong housing market is catching many Canadians off guard. Homeowners primed to sit on their investment and wait for the market to recover after the recession are once again thinking of selling their homes as sales and housing prices rebound more quickly than expected.

To prepare their houses for sale though, those looking to maximize their home's value are moving up the timetable on home repairs and upgrades like adding an extra washroom.

Having a minimum of two baths is essential to commanding a decent price in today's market and getting your listing noticed. Sites like the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) allow buyers to screen their searches by number of bathrooms among other criteria.

“Renovating or adding a second or third bathroom has always been a great way to increase the value of your home,” says Michael Polzler, executive vice president, regional director, RE/MAX Ontario-Atlantic Canada. “In fact, bathrooms ranked amongst the most value-added upgrades by consumers in a recent survey conducted by our company.”

For convenience and functionality, a house should have a bathroom on every level with functional living space. Adding a bathroom may seem like a daunting task, but with macerating toilet systems, this kind of renovation project doesn't have to be expensive or time consuming.

“Macerating toilet systems are a simple solution to what can be a complex problem,” says Daniel Cayer, national sales manager of Saniflo Canada. “Our systems allow you to add a stylish bathroom anywhere in your home, from the basement to the attic, in as little as half a day.”

Macerating toilets, or upflush toilets as they are sometimes called, provide homeowners with a money-saving option when conventional plumbing fixtures are impossible or cost-prohibitive to install. These above-floor systems do not require a toilet rough-in, allowing them to be installed on top of any finished surface, including concrete.

More information on these toilet systems is available online at saniflo.ca or toll-free at 1-800-363-5874.